Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-10-25
TERRITORY OUTLAWS
Robbers and Vigilantes Have a
Pitched Battle on the Ar
kansas River.
Rocky Forks Coal. The "FooI
Farmer. Result of the Butte
Miner Libel Suit.
OUTLAWS AT BAY,

OUTLAWS AT BAY.
A Pitched Battle Between Robbers and
vigilantes In Indian Territory-Neithsr
Side Victorious.
Little Rock, Ark. Telegram: A
special to the Gazette from WAwoks,
Indian Territory, via Muskogee, says:
On Thursday Q desperate fight took
place on the north Fork of the Arkan.
sas river between Bud Trainers gang
Of outlaws and vigilsnte committee
under the leadership Of Robert Rob.
ertson, . Scotch half.breed, which fol.
lowed them from Duckworth store in
the Creek Nation on . raid there Wed
nesday. IL appears the outlaws, find.
ing out the size OF The force which
was following them, decided to risk
an encounter and made haste TO reach
the river banks where they could find
shelter behind trees and In ravinss
which line the banks on either side.
In this they succded. 80 that when the
vigilantes came up they were entirely
for time ct the mercy OF two-score Of
men who knew not what mercy was.
Henderson then took his men short
distance up the river where . fording
could bs found, they crossed and took
up q position on the other side Of the
stream from the outlaws and where
his men were - well protected -
Trainers men. The river at this
point is only about one hundred yards
wide, and across this distance. from
Thursday morning until Thursday
night, bullets were singing to their
mission OF death. When the vigi-
lantes haa succeeded In obtaining this
position they found they had lost
three men and two more were sefi.
ously wounded. As Trainer found the
enemy in his rear on the other eide Of
the river he sent half OF his men
down stream to the crossing and one
up on the other side fighting under
cover Of the trees. In this coup d. stat
they were surprised by the avengers
who met them half way and opened
fire upon them, checking their course
and driving them precipitately back.
In endeavoring to rally his men, Bill
Chutt was killed and before the river
could be re-forded John Leech, Of the
robber gang, was shot OF his hoTse,
but not killed. The fight from this
on was continued across the stream,
the banks OF which were lined ut .
distance Of about fve rods apart with
sharpshooters. No sooner was head,
an arm or any part Of . body visible
on either side than bullet was seek
ing to find Judgement therein. As
Thursday was coming on, Henderson
called his men In for q consultation
when II was found that of his force
eight were killed outright and eight
others had received serious though
not fatal wounds. The force was in
this way reduced one half. and il was
thought best TO remove the wounded
here and 90 back home and stir up re.
Inducements. The dead were buried
and the wounded, 1t was found after
dressing their wounds, were able to
return home with the rest Of the
party. It's thought that many OF the
outlaws were killed and OF the pursu-
ing party, though this will never be
known. Henderson says he will col.
lect men and follow the robbers to
hades but what he will wipe them
out. Henry Aires, well-to.do stock
man from Cherokee Nation, who was
one OF the party with Henderson, says
he is Of opinion that not less than ar
teen were killed outright on both
sides, and thinks one.half Of the out.
laws not killed were wounded.